The Scottish Arts Council has unveiled a unique arts education initiative that will see school students learning maths using dance, or history through visual art. The new project, Arts Across the Curriculum, supported by the Scottish Arts Council in partnership with the Scottish Executive, will bring a culturally orientated approach into classrooms across seven local authorities later this year. Based on a model pioneered in Chicago in the United States, the program unites artists and teachers in a partnership to develop and deliver core subjects of the curriculum. Educational successes in the Chicago model included: improved school attendance, enhanced school ethos, enrichment of learning and understanding, improved pupil motivation and better test results. Arts Across the Curriculum will be independently evaluated from the outset. Joan Parr, Head of Education, Scottish Arts Council called the initiative 'an exciting project for teachers and for their pupils.' 'It gives teachers an opportunity to look at their subject from a fresh perspective, and most importantly gives young people a new way of investigating a subject. Making effective learning an enjoyable, creative experience for young people is much more likely to result in confident young citizens with a solid foundation of learning. Arts Across the Curriculum offers a pioneering opportunity to do both.’ Jackie Murphy, Director of Lakeview Arts Education Partnership, Chicago (in Scotland with other US delegates to help launch the program), said: ‘I am old friends with Scotland but it is so exciting to be coming back to share our experiences from Chicago. There is something magical that happens when a teacher and an artist work together. Their mutual trust and respect inspires great lessons and the biggest winners are the children.’ For further information, CLICK HERE.